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New radiator Overheating - Why?
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Trader914
Novice
Mar 28, 2012, 3:33 PM
Post #1 of 19
(11202 views)
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New radiator Overheating - Why?
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I have a 1998 Honda CRV. The original radiator sprung a leak and I bought a cheap aluminum replacement one from ebay and installed it myself. Seemed easy enough - everything fit, nothing leaks...and it worked fine until the summer came. I live in Vegas & it gets pretty hot. Whenever I would drive uphill (like going up a mountain or slow upward incline for a long time), the engine would overheat. And the A/C would stop functioning.
The car does not overheat between September - March. It only overheats when the outside temp gets really hot.
Are not all radiators created equal? Do they come in different capacities or efficiencies?
Could my thermostat be broken that causes my A/C to stop working or my engine to overheat?
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 28, 2012, 3:46 PM
Post #2 of 19
(11187 views)
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Re: New radiator Overheating - Why?
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Is there enough air flow through the radiator. Are your condenser fins plugged up? Do the cooling fans operate? If you turn on your heater full blast, does the engine temperature come down? What is the concentration of your coolant? Is the radiator cap functional? Have you been having to add coolant since replacing your radiator? What does your coolant look like?
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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Trader914
Novice
Mar 28, 2012, 3:50 PM
Post #3 of 19
(11180 views)
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Re: New radiator Overheating - Why?
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Is there enough air flow through the radiator. - Yes. Nothing is blocking the front of the radiator.
Are your condenser fins plugged up? - Do not know what this is
Do the cooling fans operate? - Yes
If you turn on your heater full blast, does the engine temperature come down? - Yes - when the engine overheats, one of the things that seems to help is to turn the heater on.
What is the concentration of your coolant? - I used exactly what was recommended by the coolant manufacturer.
Is the radiator cap functional? - I don't know how to test for this. Nothing is leaking out it.
Have you been having to add coolant since replacing your radiator? - No. I have checked few times and coolant level is full.
What does your coolant look like? - Clean.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 28, 2012, 4:14 PM
Post #4 of 19
(11171 views)
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Re: New radiator Overheating - Why?
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If cranking the heater full blast brings the temperature down, your radiator isn't doing its job or you have a possible thermostat sticking closed. The condenser is in front of the radiator. It looks like a radiator itself, but it is used by the air conditioning system.
Anytime you replace a radiator, you should replace the cap too. If the cap can't keep the system pressurized, the coolant boiling point is going to be lower.
Not sure of the radiator you bought, but if it is a cheap Chinese knock off, you get what you pay for. Skimping on a radiator that isn't efficient at transferring heat can cost you big bucks later on when the head gasket blows.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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Larry T
User
Mar 29, 2012, 1:23 PM
Post #5 of 19
(11117 views)
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Re: New radiator Overheating - Why?
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HT, I have the same problem with my 2004 Xterra V6. I think the coolant needs to be drained, system flushed and refilled, but I'm gonna trade it very soon. Is it worth the expense to do all of that, or simply trade it before it gets hot here in Indiana?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 29, 2012, 2:09 PM
Post #6 of 19
(11114 views)
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Re: New radiator Overheating - Why?
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This question belongs to someone else. You need to start a question of your own if you need help.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Trader914
Novice
Mar 31, 2012, 3:57 PM
Post #7 of 19
(11070 views)
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Re: New radiator Overheating - Why?
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If the car was functioning fine and not overheating at all before the radiator was replaced, and let's assume for argument sakes that there is no air pocket and the system was bled properly......would it stand to reason that the problem is the radiator itself and not the thermostat or other problems you can think of? Both fans attached to the radiator runs fine (checked by turning on the A/C). The ONLY thing that has changed is the radiator itself. The coolant level is fine, the overflow tank has proper amount of coolant in it. The coolant mixture is also fine.
I did notice one thing for my car: There seem to be 2 "sizes" of radiators that you can buy - one with 5/8" thickness and one with 1" thickness. I bought the skinnier one. I am thinking perhaps I should replace it with the 1" one even though the ad says the 5/8 is to OEM specs.
I just can not imagine what could be causing this since I changed absolutely nothing else and the system has been bled properly.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 31, 2012, 4:47 PM
Post #8 of 19
(11063 views)
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Re: New radiator Overheating - Why?
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Those sizes are not personal choices to save you money. They are both possible fitments that were used in that year. You need which ever one yours came with. You can go bigger if it fits but not smaller. Coming from Ebay, it may not even be the right one for the car.
Remember, it only takes one good overheat to do permanent internal damage.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Mar 31, 2012, 4:51 PM)
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Trader914
Novice
Mar 31, 2012, 5:52 PM
Post #9 of 19
(11047 views)
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Re: New radiator Overheating - Why?
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Is there a way to check whether the thermostat is working or not WITHOUT removing it from the car?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 31, 2012, 6:02 PM
Post #10 of 19
(11046 views)
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Re: New radiator Overheating - Why?
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You can for the most part just feeling (careful) for heat coming out and when fan kicks on should blow warm to hot air underhood blowing off radiator.
IDK - I find more stuck open than ones that don't open but who knows. As HT said don't smoke that engine as none like overheating,
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 31, 2012, 6:07 PM
Post #11 of 19
(11034 views)
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Re: New radiator Overheating - Why?
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Start it up cold and let it idle. Keep feeling the upper radiator hose. It will suddenly get hose when the thermostat opens.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Trader914
Novice
Apr 1, 2012, 3:45 AM
Post #12 of 19
(11018 views)
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Re: New radiator Overheating - Why?
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I checked by doing the following: Let the engine warm up to operating temp...then felt the top radiator hose by hand...and it felt too hot to touch. Is that a good indication that the thermostat is opening (working properly)?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 1, 2012, 5:33 AM
Post #13 of 19
(11013 views)
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Re: New radiator Overheating - Why?
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Yes
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 1, 2012, 5:40 AM
Post #14 of 19
(11010 views)
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Re: New radiator Overheating - Why?
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Quick re-read: This didn't overheat with old radiator which would lead me to believe the new, thinner one just can't do it's job whether defective or just inadequate for this vehicle,
T
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Trader914
Novice
Apr 1, 2012, 2:37 PM
Post #15 of 19
(10997 views)
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Re: New radiator Overheating - Why?
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Yes - that is correct. Everything was perfect (temperature-wise) with the old radiator (except the radiator was leaking). After the radiator was replaced, the over-heating problem started. So this leads me to believe that the thermostat or water pump or other parts are probably working fine. The radiator is the common denominator. But I wanted to make sure that other parts were working properly before I replace the radiator again.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 1, 2012, 2:47 PM
Post #16 of 19
(10995 views)
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Re: New radiator Overheating - Why?
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When something happens all at once with a repair I blame something wrong with new parts or how installed first.
Now that it's overheating or has, there could be other problems,
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 1, 2012, 3:21 PM
Post #17 of 19
(10988 views)
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Re: New radiator Overheating - Why?
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I'm not convinced this didn't overheat with the leaking radiator. The temp gauge won't show it is there is no coolant for the CTS to read from. One good overheat will leave you with a blown head gasket.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Trader914
Novice
Apr 1, 2012, 3:32 PM
Post #18 of 19
(10982 views)
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Re: New radiator Overheating - Why?
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The car worked perfectly forever. The temp gauge never ever fluctuated. Then one day, the temp gauge started to go up...so I checked and I noticed a crack in the radiator that was leaking the coolant. It was obvious. So I replaced the radiator as described and the car works perfectly fine unless the outside temp is over 100 degrees and Im going uphill or moving slowly in uphill inclined roads. Between Sept - May, car does not overheat even if I am going uphill.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 1, 2012, 3:37 PM
Post #19 of 19
(10975 views)
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Re: New radiator Overheating - Why?
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As already stated, you probably put the wrong radiator in it.
This thread is just starting to run in circles now and we are just revisiting the same items over again so I believe it has run it's course and I am going to lock it now.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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